A couple of days later, Conrad and Julia were having lunch outside when Marshall walked over to the table.
"Conrad."
Conrad looked up and smiled. "Dad."
Marshall then looked at Julia.
"Dad, this is Doctor Julia Adams, the new trauma surgeon."
Conrad then looked at Julia.
"This is my father Marshall Winthrop, head of the board at Chastain."
Politely Julia stood and extended out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Winthrop."
Marshall shook her hand.
"The pleasure is all mine. We're happy to have you on board Dr. Adams and in helping us become a level three trauma hospital."
"I'm glad I can help. Chastain is a great place to work and there is nothing more I would like than to continue improving its expansion."
Marshall nodded then turned his attention to Conrad. "You have a minute for me?"
Still standing, Julia took her platter. "I have a Whipple procedure with Bell, you're more than welcome to take my seat."
Even though she was a trauma doctor and surgeon, traumas were luckily not present every day, and the rest of the time she did other general surgeries or assisted other surgeons in theirs. She liked it a lot, it kept her on her toes and made sure that she came across less-common surgeries and improved her knowledge and technique.
As Marshall and Julia crossed paths, she quickly removed something from her white coat pocket and slid it discreetly inside his hand. It was so subtle and quick that no one around would have noticed. You would have thought it was rehearsed, as it seemed as natural as possible. By the time Marshall had placed it in his pant pocket and sat down, Julia had disappeared.
Even though the renovations had once again been delayed, she finally managed to get into the small house that she had bought. The movers came and brought in all the furniture and boxes that had been temporarily placed in a cargo container. She spent the rest of the weekend, emptying the boxes and making this new house her home.
Due to her parent's work in finance, Julia had travelled and moved several times around the world and the US, and she was used to it. Just as she was in the OR, she was thorough, structured, and meticulous. It had been something she had learned from her mother.
She was about to sit down and watch a bit of TV when the doorbell rang. She headed for the door and found herself nose to nose with one of Marshall's men.
"Julia."
"Hello Diego. Everything alright?"
It was more a question about what she had provided Marshall then a general question about him.
"Yes. Marshall prefers seeing you in a public place rather than here. He's asked me to come get you."
"OK," said Julia as she grabbed her belongings and followed Diego over to the car.
When Diego pulled up fifteen minutes later at the hotel she had been staying, he told her Marshall was waiting for her in the lounge. She exited the car and strode into the hotel lobby, then proceeded to head for the lounge.
The place was packed. It was no surprise it was a Friday evening and happy hour. A lot of businessmen and women had come to decompress from a hard week's work. When she saw Marshall, he stood and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Over time he had grown fond of her and the kind of person she was. She had been through a lot and yet she had never given up, she was a fighter and he liked that in people.
As she sat down, he stopped the waiter and placed his order.
Marshall was known by most people in Atlanta, and he was respected.
He sat down and looked at Julia. "We had a look at what you passed over the other day."
"And?"
She was anxious and curious at the same time.
"It's good but we need more. You think you could find a way to get close to him?"
She didn't need to ask who; she knew who he meant.
"I can try."
"Look, I know it goes against every inch of your being, but we really need access to the data."
"I think I could manage to get it, but I'm going to need your help."
"You just tell me what you need and it's yours."
"I need you to be a diversion."
He gave a side smile. "That I can do very easily. When do you think you could put the wheels in motion?"
Julia thought as the waiter returned with their order.
Curiously enough he had ordered his cognac and a Martini for her. She raised an inquisitive eye in his direction.
"We need to celebrate," he said as he lifted his glass, "it's only the beginning Julia."
She raised her glass in echo and took a sip.
He lowered his glass and remembering how fond he was of her, he thought about what it would mean to him if she were his daughter. She was venturing out on a dangerous path and even though he was doing all he could and would do all he could to protect her, he knew there was always a risk. In a battle, in a war, there was often collateral damage, and it would pain him if she were the target.
He put his hand on hers as it lay next to her glass on the table. It was done protectively and reassuringly.
"Julia, once we set the wheels in motion, there's no turning back. I need to make sure that you are OK to keep going."
She placed her hand over his. "Marshall, I told you from the beginning, I'm all in. If I don't do this, I would never be able to look myself in the mirror ever again, and I don't think I could live with that."
He stared into her eyes and saw the determination, the fury. There was no indication of fear or doubt. He thanked his lucky star for putting her in his path.
"OK. You know I wouldn't hold it against you if you decided to back out."
"It's not something I do and neither do you."
He nodded and she removed her hand as she took a sip of her Martini. He removed his in turn and leaned back in his chair.